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Mounting an Extractor

When we extracted, we learned that balancing the frames inside the extractor makes the process smoother. We learned that by not having it balanced and watching the extractor trying to jump around. Luckily, we only did that at low speeds, so that we could slow it down.

One thing I noticed is that the tops of the sides of plastic frames is just a tad wider than wooden frames. This requires wiggling, pushing, and muttering under my breath to get them in the bottom frame holders. I have ordered a few medium wooden frames to see if they fit any better. I may end up grinding/sanding the sides of the plastic frames a little to make them fit better in the extractor.

Anyways, I had an old pallet laying around in the yard and we mounted the extractor to that to give it a more stable base (plus now I could move it on a forklift if I had one!). We put 2X4s underneath the top pallet wood to strengthen the setup. Here's what it looks like:

Re: Mounting an Extractor

So I still haven't purchased my new 20 frame extractor yet, but the thought of taking a crescent wrench or tool to bend the frame guides so my plastic frames will fit into the slot is not the most exciting thought i've had this week. You guys are serious? I use PF100 and 120's and a lot of Mann Lake wood frames.

"Tradition becomes our security, and when the mind is secure it is in decay".....Krishnamurti

Re: Mounting an Extractor

I already way back in 1979 graduated to a 20 frame extractor and capping spinner bolted down to a sloped concrete floor with floor drain in a dedicated honey extracting room. Wives #2, 4 and 6 would not have permitted extracting in the garage or kitchen. Wives #1, 3, and 5 left me because I spent more time keeping bees and in my dedicated extracting room than with them. The garage is now reserved and spotless for the parking of wife #7's Mercedes convertible coup and her Hummer HT3 bee truck.

Re: Mounting an Extractor

Originally Posted by odfrank

I already way back in 1979 graduated to a 20 frame extractor and capping spinner bolted down to a sloped concrete floor with floor drain in a dedicated honey extracting room. Wives #2, 4 and 6 would not have permitted extracting in the garage or kitchen. Wives #1, 3, and 5 left me because I spent more time keeping bees and in my dedicated extracting room than with them. The garage is now reserved and spotless for the parking of wife #7's Mercedes convertible coup and her Hummer HT3 bee truck.

I like your current wife, she must have allot of patience. I want to introduce my son to your daughter. Maybe I'll get use of that 20 Frame extractor out of the relationship. Don't go cheap on the wedding.

Re: Mounting an Extractor

OK, changed mind... I am going with the castor mount method... The design it so simple, yet makes perfect sense! When I think about it I just want to smack myself in the head and go, duhh, why didn't I think of that.

Re: Mounting an Extractor

Here is my mount. Thanks to a lot of people posting their ideas and pics I was able to put this together with little difficulty or generations of my own learning. I posted the pics on a thread on how to keep your extractor from walking and decided to post here as well. I used a bungee cord, not shown in pics, from front leg around bucket to other leg to make sure bucket stayed put. Thing works flawlessly.